Method Bead Grip wheels how low have you gone?

[zouch]

didn't you go with Borahs on your AEV build?
i'd have thought you'd be setting up to run them as Beadlocks, and working those single-digit pressures across the snow.
no?

How low are you thinking you'll go? I run regular wheels with 37s at 12 PSI when doing the more extreme stuff. Bead Grips are compelling since I'd love to go lower.

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[Ratbert]

didn't you go with Borahs on your AEV build?
i'd have thought you'd be setting up to run them as Beadlocks, and working those single-digit pressures across the snow.
no?

Yes, they're AEV Borahs, but without the beadlock rings.

 

[Hercules]

10 psi no issue for 4 years on 37s. Love the wheel. Sometimes 8-9 psi

 

[Oh_Jeepers]

How low are you thinking you'll go? I run regular wheels with 37s at 12 PSI when doing the more extreme stuff. Bead Grips are compelling since I'd love to go lower.

planning on going below 10 with the method wheels

 

[zouch]

curious; why haven't you set them up as beadlock?

Yes, they're AEV Borahs, but without the beadlock rings.

 

[yokramer]

planning on going below 10 with the method wheels

If you do end up with them be sure to sign up for an onx elite sub, you can find 20% off coupons for that pretty often which makes it $80 to save 25% on you Method wheels which puts 5 for under the cost of 4

 

[TEAMSLO]

When I had beadgrips, no issues on obstacles and off camber running 12lbs. I remember the first time on 12lbs, and what a difference in comfort it was.

 

[Ratbert]

planning on going below 10 with the method wheels

Ok, so you're actually planning on doing extreme hardcore stuff. Got it.

 

[Willys41]

I run 9 to 10 with my dirt lifestyle bead lock wheels.
Running 15psi is good. Running 9psi is great.

 

[Ratbert]

curious; why haven't you set them up as beadlock?

I guess it would be nice to air down below 12, but that wasn't required to do the Rubicon or a local level 9 trail.

Beadlocks require more maintenance than I want to invest in at this point. Additionally you're pretty well screwed if you have a flat on the road in a remote area that lacks a shop willing to deal with them. It takes a lot of time and dedication to mount them.

If I remember correctly, @Tredsdert paid $600(?) to have his mounted. Add that to the $800 for the rings and I'm not sure if it's worth it. Note that I'm pretty sure he ended up undoing his.

So no, I'm not really interested in something that's a pain in the ass that protects exactly half as much of the bead as Bead Grips.

 

[Willys41]

I guess it would be nice to air down below 12, but that wasn't required to do the Rubicon or a local level 9 trail.

Beadlocks require more maintenance than I want to invest in at this point. Additionally you're pretty well screwed if you have a flat on the road in a remote area that lacks a shop willing to deal with them. It takes a lot of time and dedication to mount them.

If I remember correctly, @Tredsdert paid $600(?) to have his mounted. Add that to the $800 for the rings and I'm not sure if it's worth it. Note that I'm pretty sure he ended up undoing his.

So no, I'm not really interested in something that's a pain in the ass that protects exactly half as much of the bead as Bead Grips.

I have a spare tire and only once had a flat. Broke the valve stem (my fault)
As far as maintenance.
Once you do the first few re torque you are good to go.
I keep a small torque wrench in my jeep.

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[Deleted User 38384]

I guess it would be nice to air down below 12, but that wasn't required to do the Rubicon or a local level 9 trail.

Beadlocks require more maintenance than I want to invest in at this point. Additionally you're pretty well screwed if you have a flat on the road in a remote area that lacks a shop willing to deal with them. It takes a lot of time and dedication to mount them.

If I remember correctly, @Tredsdert paid $600(?) to have his mounted. Add that to the $800 for the rings and I'm not sure if it's worth it. Note that I'm pretty sure he ended up undoing his.

So no, I'm not really interested in something that's a pain in the ass that protects exactly half as much of the bead as Bead Grips.

Yeah my local off-road shop charges $150 per wheel mounted and balanced for beadlocks, but only $15 for mounting and balancing normal wheels.

This go around it's only going to cost me $60 For all four wheels, but for me that's because with my icon rebound Pros, I'm doing the leg work and all of the labor, so that when I bring My wheels to them, all they have to do is mount and balance, and don't have to worry about the interlocking bolts. On my end I lose about 4 hours total to swap the bolts back and forth, but I save over $500 in the process. In my opinion it's worth the extra effort on my end.

I would hate to have beadlock wheels with the ring, because you can't do what I'm doing with ring style beadlock wheels! Those guys are just screwed!


If it's any consolation, once I get the extra storage capabilities, I do plan on swapping out to El cheapo steely's. I mean I will with people who have normal everyday wheels and get down to 12 or 14 PSI without any issues with their 37-in tires, so it's kind of like at least for me it doesn't make sense to keep damaging my $350 interlock wheels when I could be running $80 steelies that are just as capable for what I need right now. At a later point once I've got a better lift and I'm doing stuff that requires me to go down to 4 PSI, then I'll switch back, but that's not going to be anytime soon.

Looking back on it, I am happy that I got my icon rebound Pros when I did, because back when I bought them they're only $250 each, now they're 350 each. So I actually saved a boatload of money in the process. Five wheels that's $500 savings. But, for someone like me it's honestly unnecessary and more work than it's worth. Which is why I do plan on switching over to cheap steelys as soon as I can.

The bead grips sure are cool, if they were cheaper I would totally get those instead, but their beadlock prices for not actually beadlock wheels. And while I haven't heard of too many people popping the bead, it's still not a beadlock wheel, and I will only trust that as far as you can throw them. At the end of the day, you're not going to see a hardcore rock crawler running anything but true beadlock wheels. There's just nothing like them!

 

[Ratbert]

The bead grips sure are cool, if they were cheaper I would totally get those instead, but their beadlock prices for not actually beadlock wheels. And while I haven't heard of too many people popping the bead, it's still not a beadlock wheel, and I will only trust that as far as you can throw them. At the end of the day, you're not going to see a hardcore rock crawler running anything but true beadlock wheels. There's just nothing like them!

I see Bead Grips as significantly better than beadlocks. None of the issues related to beadlocks (legal compliance crap, maintenance, installation, etc.) and deals with both outer and inner bead. Very few people are willing to deal with inner bead beadlocks, but it's a no-brainer with Bead Grips.

 

[Deleted User 38384]

I see Bead Grips as significantly better than beadlocks. None of the issues related to beadlocks (legal compliance crap, maintenance, installation, etc.) and deals with both outer and inner bead. Very few people are willing to deal with inner bead beadlocks, but it's a no-brainer with Bead Grips.

Fair enough. I guess if you want something a little more protective then normal wheels, it's definitely the best option. And I do agree, with the less work and problems than actual beadlocks.

Realistically part of the reason why I bought my interlock wheels from icon is because they our street legal and because they didn't have the ring. Obviously after the fact I've since realized it was a cool idea but I didn't really need them to begin with. At the same time, I don't believe the bead grip technology was available at that point in time.

I think the biggest issue I have right now with most of the aftermarket wheels on the market is that they are aluminum. And if you dent in aluminum, you're pretty much screwed. You can heat it up and bend it back, but it will be forever weak in that location. That's really the main reason I'm planning on switching over to steely's at some point in the future.

You know if you want to get technical, The bead grip technology isn't really anything that complicated. If you got steelies, any new a talented machinist shop, you could easily put in a welding bead, on the inside and outside rims, and then machine it down and get your own bead grip wheels for significantly less than it would cost you to buy them from method. It's definitely something I've been pondering on myself. My biggest issue is I don't know a machinist shop that is talented that I would trust with that kind of job.

 

[Ratbert]

You know if you want to get technical, The bead grip technology isn't really anything that complicated. If you got steelies, any new a talented machinist shop, you could easily put in a welding bead, on the inside and outside rims, and then machine it down and get your own bead grip wheels for significantly less than it would cost you to buy them from method. It's definitely something I've been pondering on myself. My biggest issue is I don't know a machinist shop that is talented that I would trust with that kind of job.

Have you watched Outdoor Auto's video on the topic? I'm not sure it's as simple as welding on two new beads per wheel. Note that you'd have to do it in a manner that makes it possible to remove the tires too!

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